Stream motor



DCC. 24, 1.929.

H. l. HOHLT 1,740,596

STREAM MOTOR Filed April 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1). 24, 1929. 1. HOHLT 1,740,596

STREAH MOTOR Filed April 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ptentecl Dec. 24, 1929 UNETED STATES HANS I. HOHLT, OF SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC STREAM MOTOR Application fi1er1 Apri1 11,

'Ihis invention relates to stream motors operative with Wind, water, steam, 01' the like as motive power.

One object oi' this invention is to PIOVi(1G 5 an improvecl stream 1netor which operates in an efi'icient manner regarclless of the clirection of flow of the motiVating stream, as long as the clirection is at an angle t0 the axis of the motor.

Another ohject 0f this invention is to pro- Vicle an i1nprovecl stream roter in which the vanes move with their trailing eclges fore- 1nost.

Another object of the lnvention is the pro- Vision of a clevice 0'l the character clescribecl,

wherein the 10t01 comprises a plurality 0f vanes e qually spaced ancl symmetrically a1- ranged about the roter axis, whicl1 vanes are stationary throughout the cycle of the motor, ancl are relatecl in proxi1nity to one another at a particular angle so that a suction may be createcl upon the exterior face of a vane ancl a pressure upon the interior face of an acljacent vane, for which purpose the spaces between the vanes freely communicate within the rotor.

A fu1ther objeot of the invention is t0 procluce an improvecl clevice of the type specifiecl, in which the vanes are 0f uniform surface formation ancl relati0n to one another for stream line action.

Still another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the natu1e set forth in which the rotor vanes are angularly clisposed to the axis of the roter I"01 reclucing the impact ancl lose 0'f energy of the motivating strea1n in its action 011 the rot-01.

Still a further obj ect of the invent-ion is t0 create an improvecl device oft the species mentioned, which is aclaptecl to operate as a steam turbine.

Other objects Wlll in part be evident ancl in part pointecl 0ut hereinafter.

Generally describecl, the invention provicles a strea1n rot0r which inclucles a plurality 0f vanes arrangecl in stationary relation ancl in proximity to one another, the spaces hetween the vanes communicating freely, and the vanes forming sueh an angle of approach with one another ancl the motivating stream 1928. Seria1 N0. 269,047.

that the latter, from whatever direction it 1nay happen to come, Will create a recluced pressure 011 the outsicle surfaces 01E certain vanes, ancl an increasecl pressure 011 the insicle surfaces of vanes acljacent t0 those aforementionecl, causing the roter to turn with the vanes moving in the clirection of their trailing eclges. Thema may be upper and lower vanes arrangecl at an angle to one another so that the roter has a central stream parting action while the vanes rececle towarcl the encls 0f the rotor in the clirection 0f fiow of the stream. The several vanes are in all cases of even' surface character so that the eclclying 01": the stream may be reclucecl. N0 cleflector is employed herein, although the vanes may be rigid on the roto1, since the angle 0T: approach referrecl to, combinecl with the spacing of the vanes, makes the same unnecessary.

The rotor inclucles a main base supporting the vanes at the angle 01 parting ment-ionecl, the saicl base being at right angles to the roto; axis ancl being preferably solicl.

VVhere the clevice is utilizecl as a stea1n turhine, an improvecl speecl control may consist in the use of a plurality 0f turbine rotors, 0ertain of which are opposecl in direction t0 others thereof.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters clesignate the same parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an emho climent 0f the invention.

Fig. 2 is a t0p plan view of the same with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cliagrammatic view illustrating the action and direction oi rotation of a roter vane.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modification of the invention, usecl as a turbine.

Figs. 5 ancl 6 are similar views 0f modifications in which a plurality of units are used that may rotate in opposite directions f0r speecl regulation.

The const-ruction herein clescribecl constitutes an improvement over 1ny application for patent, Serial N0. 124,118, filed October 7th, 1926.

Referring in cletail to the clrawing, 10 denotes a stream motor emboclying the invenf tion. The said motor includes a roter 11 that is mounted upon a vertical axial shaft 12. The latter is journalecl als its 10We1 free end in a bearing 13 0f an anchor plate 14, from Which extends upwarclly a bracket 15 forming another bearing 16 f01 the said shaft. Between the said bearings is a bevel gear 17 on the sha ft 12, and meshing with the teeth there- 0f is another bevel gear 18 on a horizontal drive shaft 19 tl1at is journaled in bearing 20 in the bracket 15. A ball bearing support to carry the weight 0f the rotor 11 is provided at 21 at the bearing 16.

VVl1ile the rot0r shaft 12 is supported at only one end thereof, steadiness in a high degree is obtained, since as the speed 0f the rotor 11 increases, so does the stability thereof, according to the principle of the gyroscope.

The rotor includes a plurality of vanes 22 that are in proxinnity to one another. Each vane l1as an outer o1 leading edge 23 and an inner 0r trailing edge 24. Both the leading and trailing edges 0f eacl1 vane are free so that clear spaces 25 a1e provided between adjacent Vanes. These spaces communicate with the air charnber C within the rotor 11.

Eaeh vane 22 for1ns an angle A witl1 a radial line from the axis 0f the roto1, whicl1 angle is hereinafter designated as the angle of approach of the stream t0 the Vane nearest thereto in the direction of flow. This angle may be approxinnately thirty degrees. It Will be noted that the inside and outside surfaces of each vane are in parallelism. Now, as the motivating stream strikes the rotor 11, a suction or region of reducecl pressure is created 0n the outside olf' certain vanes and a region 01 increased pressure 01' velocity acting against the corresponding vanes is created 0n the inside thereof. This causes the rotor to turn, and the direction of rotation of the sa1ne is dependent solely on the direction of the vanes. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, vanes 22 and 26 are shown in diagrammatic relation to each other. In each Gase the direction of the Wind is the same, being indicatecl loy arrow a, yet vane 22 Will move clockwise, While vane 26 Will move counterelockwise. The action of the currents is as follows The current, after striking vane 22 is deflected as shown by arrow ereating a suction on the vane in a clockwise direction. Otl1er current entering space 25, 01 being cleflected thereinto from a next adjoining vane 22, strikes the inner side of said vane as indicated by arrows 0 producing a clockwise force that is additive to tl1at indicated at b. At vane 26 these forces are in opposite direction.

The vanes 22 forma angles B 0f approximately forty live degrees with the rotor axis, measuring frorn the edges of the vanes. Thus the tendeney toward a stream line elfeet 'is accentuatecl, and eddying considerably reduced, so that the operating efficiency of the device is high. v

Preferably a main base is provided at 27 which is formed with a plurality of equally spaced, symmetrical points, 28, each of wl1ich forms an angle 0f sixty degrees, as may be readily understood. This base is located centrally between the upper and lower ends 0f the rotor, and is at right angles t0 the sl1aft 12. T he vanes 22 are fastened to sim'1lar sides of the points 28, and if the rotor is t0 tu1n in opposite direction, the vanes are fastened t0 the opposite sides of said points. The base 27 is solid and acts beneficially in the rotor cl1amber C as a stream guide. Other bases, 01 partitions parallel to 27 may be provided. Bach vane 22 tapers towards its end at the end of the rotor 11. This taper decreases the Working face of the vane nearest the rotor axis, where the strean1 is least effectiv. easy attachment of the vanes is thereloy in sured, this occurring in any snitable manner, by 1neans of hollow spiders at the rotor ends, 01 being directly bracketed to the shaft 12.

It has been found to be most advantageous that the nu1nber cf vanes employed be. six 01 multiples of six. The adj acent vanes must be in comparative proximity to one another. If the upper and lower vanes be regarcled as separate, then the unit nn1nber 01: vanes 1night be properly designated as six pairs.

VVhile the vanes are l1ere shown as being rigid, they 1nay be pivoted f01' movement so that the dilection of rotation n1ay be reversed 01 the speed of the rotor reduced f0r a given 1 veloeity 01: the 1netivating stream. Otl1 y constructions f0r speed anal direction control are hereinafter described.

The vanes 22 may be 1nade 0f any suitable material, as, for example, sheet 1netal which l1as the desired weather proof qualities, and its mode 0f fastening may be any tl1at is well known in the art.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the invention, wherein 1ny improved roter is utilized in a spherical casing 29 so as to provide a steam turbine. The said casing has bearings 30 for the horizontal shaft 31 of the roter 11. A pai1 0f diametrically opposite openings 32 and 33, whose axes lie in the central transverse plane of the rotor, are provided. The opening 32 constitutes an intake nozzle, while 33 is an exhaust ontlet. The relation in size of these openings 1nay of course be such as t0 permit of proper expansion of the steam.

In Fig. 5 is shown afurther modification 0f the invention in Wl1ich a plurali-ty 0f turbine units are employed, 1nore particularly three in number. Of these the end turbine *units 34 have rotors for turning in one direethe casings may be interconnected at the bearings 30'. In operation, units 34 a10ne are operated, unless it be desired t0 slow down the shaft 31, in which case unit 35 is operated to create a counterforce. T0 reverse the directi-on of rotation of the said shaft, units 34 may be idle, and uni 35 operated alone. This arrangenient provides a simpli fied speed and direction control of a high degree of simplicity.

By the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, a plurality of intermediate units 35 a1e pro vided, so that the force of units 34 may be balanced und the shaft brought to a, stop. Further, the shaft may rotate with equal power in either direction, according as the intermediate 01 end units are operated. A more sensitive speed control is thus ensured.

It Will be noted that the speed of any one unit can be directly regulated, as, for example, by throttling the steam supply. Where a plurality of units are employecl, automatic control can be provided, so that in the event that the speed of the shaft becomes excessive, steam may bs supplied. o the intermediate units in a regulated quantity to reduce the shaft speed t0 a desired number 035 rotations per minute.

I claim:

l. A stream motor comprising a rotor having a plurality of vanes equally spaced about the axis of the roter in proximity to one an other, said vanes being relative1y stationary with respect to 0ne another, the spaces between the vanes b6111g in free communicat-ion with one another interiorly of the roter, the said vanes making equal similar ang1es wit-h the radial 1ines thereto, so that a region 0f reduced pressure is createcl exteriorly 0f cer tain of the vanes, and a region of increased pressure interiorly 0I" the said certain vanes,

due 130 the flow 0f a stream thereagainst, and power transmission means driven by the rot0r, said rotor having its maximum circumference intermediate 0f the ends 0i' the r0tor, said vanes sloping from saicl circumference to the ends of the rotor, said roter having a Partition extending therethrough at said circumference.

2. A stream motor comprising a rotor and power transmission means driven thereby, said roter having a plurality of vanes about ths axis thereof, said 10t0r having a chamber therein between the vanes, the spaces between the vanes freely communicating Wih said chamber, said vanes making equal similar angles with radial lines of the rotor at an angle t0 the axis thereof, so that a stream, due t0 the angle aforesaid, creates regions 0f reduced pressure exteriorly of the vanes nein" est in the line of fiow and increased pressure interiorly -of the vanes last referred to, causing t-11e vanes to move with their trailing edges foremost, said roter having its maximum circumference intermediate 0f the ends 

